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Sport

England hopes crushed as Tendulkar triumphs

David Lloyd, Cricket Correspondent
15 Dec 2008


Kevin Pietersen said he was proud of his England team despite watching Sachin Tendulkar lead India to an historic and emotional six-wicket victory in Chennai today.

Needing 387 to take the First Test, the home side achieved the fourth highest successful run chase in history, thanks to master batsman Tendulkar, who ended unbeaten on 103.

"Who can write Sachin Tendulkar's script any better?" asked captain Pietersen as England tried to come to terms with a defeat which looked out of the question yesterday.

"The man from Mumbai came in and scored a sensational hundred today. He batted like a superstar. We tried everything we could but unfortunately he just came good. He is a superman and he played a fantastic game of cricket."

Mumbai resident Tendulkar knew two of those killed in last month's terror attack and he made it clear that today's century, and India's victory, meant a huge amount to him.

"By no means am I saying this will make everyone forget what happened in Mumbai, but I'd like to thank England for coming back and playing Test cricket and we've witnessed a wonderful match," said the 35-year-old.

"I don't think by India winning or me scoring a hundred, people who have lost their loved ones will feel any better, but whatever manner we can contribute we'll make that effort."

While India celebrated, England reflected on missing out on what would have been a remarkable victory of their own after all the security concerns.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow, but we tried our hearts out," said Pietersen.

"The boys are not happy but I think both teams can be really proud with the way they have played Test match cricket over the five days. The tragedy in Mumbai obviously was not in the script and for both teams to put on a performance like they have done I think they can be really proud of themselves."

With strike bowler Steve Harmison entrusted with just six overs all day and No1 spinner Monty Panesar unable to pick up a single wicket on a helpful pitch, England failed to put India under enough pressure, especially while Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh were adding 163 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket.

Pietersen, though, refused to blame today's bowling display, the inability to score more runs at a faster rate yesterday or a lack of preparation for this defeat. Our batters have done a fantastic job in getting us into a position where we think we should have won the Test," said Pietersen, who revealed he is playing with a fractured rib.

"People can nit-pick and talk about individuals and their performances, but we win as a team and lose as a team as well. I'm not going to start picking out individuals. We've just got to pick ourselves up for the next game.

"I said before the Test we were not going to use any excuses for losing or not putting on a real good performance. But I think our lads put on a fantastic performance over the five days - I'm so proud of that dressing room."

England coach Peter Moores said: "It was a hard day to watch. The lads have put everything into it but came out with nothing."

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There were THREE winners on Decemebr 15th when India remarkably beat England at Chennai. India obviously played better in the last four sessions and won the match, England gallantly fighting for 3 and half days (without any match practice mind you) and putting themsleves in a great position to win the game. But England won because in this global fight against terror they stood shoulder to shoulder to India and made the trip back and finally the thrid winner was CRICKET. If England had decided that they would not come back, and many would argue rightly so, CRICKET as it exists today would have been dead. ICC and the rest of the cricket playing nations should Salute England and India to rise above the Mumbai tragedy and play Test Match Cricket. David.. nice article. Keep up the good work.

- Ashet Kikani, Chicago, USA, 16/12/2008 04:04
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Great article David. As a sports and cricket lover I am overwhelmed by this English team and a champion captain,Kevin Pietersen.While terror strikes in its darkest form, KP and his team lights a candle. At chennai, two teams won, Indian team because they played better cricket on last four sessions, English team, which showed the sportsmen spirit. This tour of England goes down in the sports history. Playing to fight the terror, playing to win, playing to bring out positive emotions, playing to show the world that sports shows the true character of a human being. India salutes KP and his squad. True champions, true representatives of the character. KP and his teammates should proudly tell their grandchildren that when terror was striking many parts of the world they picked cricket ball and bat and fought it!

- Mahendra Lalas, Jodhpur India, 15/12/2008 16:49
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